Black Belt Awards ceremony

[Daniel Sullivan]

This is an ITA rule (International Taekwondo Alliance) that once you receive your Probabtionary Black Belt you have 6 months or 3 testing cycles (which are usually every 7-8 wks) to test for your decided black belt, you have to be in the Probationary Black Belt rank for 4 months before you're eligible to test for the decided (and have a min. # of 14 classes, at black belt they actually prefer you train 3x a week and get in 22 classes). I was out for 2 of those 4 months with my toe injury. I have not asked my instructor yet if they would make an exception to the rule because of my injury but I feel like I can be ready this next testing cycle in Nov. and I will test at the school ($20 extra) and not at the local auditorium they usually do it at because my instructors know my history with the injury. Since my school is an ITA school they have to follow whatever rules/guidelines the ITA sets.

True, once you are a decided rank they cannot demote you - but I'm a probationary not decided. It is possible they may not have ever forced this rule and gone by what the school owner/instructor says - I just haven't asked but I want to move forward so I'm gonna go for it in Nov.

I've had a few days to think about all of this and I've decided that if I don't get the ceremony I'll be ok with it - it's not like there won't be other award ceremonies. Disneyworld is so much better than an award ceremony, right? (that's what I'm telling myself anyway).

Thanks for the details. It makes sense now. Best wishes to you when you do test, but I would seriously ask your instructor about the injury exception. Again, my hat's off to you for the progress you've made! Keep on pushing!!

Disney world is lots of fun! And doesn't Disney own the Power Rangers now?

Best wishes!

Daniel

 

[granfire]

I'm sorry you're going through this... but honestly, it makes no sense to me whatsoever. The only probationary ranks we have are for people who miss their breaks at testing, and have 2 weeks to make them up for their instructors - or, more rarely, people who injure themselves such that they cannot finish testing, in which case they will retest when cleared by a doctor. If they don't make up the missed portions, they are not promoted - and retests under such circumstances are done at no charge.

I guess it was implemented so people wouldn't drop off the face off the earth once they received the (once solid) first Black belt rank.

We have a set date where everybody who missed testing or flunked part of it can re try. If you still flunk the next time will be free (at least it was when my son needed a couple of tries to advance)

 

[jks9199]

Sorry.... I'm not trying to be a jerk, but to me it's simple. If it's that important, you'll make time for it. Otherwise, it's "nice" but not important.

As to the whole test for probationary, then test again a few months later for "real" rank... that's crap to me. You're either ready & pass the test or you're not. Anything else is game playing.

 

[granfire]

Sorry.... I'm not trying to be a jerk, but to me it's simple. If it's that important, you'll make time for it. Otherwise, it's "nice" but not important.

As to the whole test for probationary, then test again a few months later for "real" rank... that's crap to me. You're either ready & pass the test or you're not. Anything else is game playing.

It is the rank. Officially called 1st degree Lvl 1

The test cycle for low Black Belts is around 4 month. That's the way things are played. Only 1st L1 has the restriction of testing within 12 month to retain rank. I never heard about it coming up, told parents that if the child dropped out then it would go back to (sr)red. I am sure there are provisions that can be made in Karatemom's case. But having gone through the ranks myself, I am sure she won't have any problems to pass either.

So the few month is normal progress.

And if you wonder....it still takes about 20 years to reach 'Master'

 

[HKphooey]

I may take some heat for this (and by all means not my feelings), but maybe your instructor is trying to find out want your training means to you. If you value the rank advancement you will find a why to make the test. Or maybe he wants to see if you have it in you to approach him? Martial Arts training is not always about the self-defense lessons; but the hidden lessons of life.

If you had a family vacation planned and then, last minute, your boss says he/she needs you in the office for a major project. Do you go on vacation or do you get the job done (or is there a happy medium).

Either way, it is what you feel inside. It should never be about the color of yoru belt. You know you have worked hard and you will get what you deserve.

 

[karatemom]

It's interesting to see all the variations of how rank/testing is done.
ITA is the organization that governs where I chose to train.
granfire is correct - it's 1st degree level 1 (my currrent rank) which is considered probationary not decided when I test I will be 1st degree level 2 and get the nice solid black belt with my name on it. I agree I have to decide what's more important - the family vacation was already planned so I will do that and regardless I know my instructor is not gonna give me that belt unless I EARNED it! so whether I get it at an awards ceremony where people get to talk about you or just receive it after I come back regardless I will have earned it and nobody can take that away from me. Oh! and granfire you'd better believe I'm doing a side kick with the right foot! (and will probably still have my official ITA karate shoes on since Master W. said I gotta wear them). The orthopedic dr. was like whatever, he had no clue what I was talking about ...

p.s. - I did talk to my instructor after my surgery and he would have worked with me this past testing cycle but I was just not ready physically, basically he told me to follow what my Dr. said, his main concern was me re-injuring/re-breaking that toe - they can only put screws in one time after that it's a plate and I'd never be able to bend it for sure! : o

p.p.s. - anybody got any types on getting my balance back? still cannot balance on that side for very long and don't get me started on trying to pivot on that side ...

 

[Kacey]

I guess it was implemented so people wouldn't drop off the face off the earth once they received the (once solid) first Black belt rank.

We have a set date where everybody who missed testing or flunked part of it can re try. If you still flunk the next time will be free (at least it was when my son needed a couple of tries to advance)

I started in the USTF, and their answer to that was this: students who were still active 6 months after their I Dan test were allowed to add black trim to the bottom of their dobok tops - but only after 6 months of active training following the I Dan test, as determined by their instructor. Not just 6 months after training - you put that trim on when your instructor said, and not a day before. There was no cost - except to those who couldn't sew, of course; I had several fellow students who paid me to sew on their trim, because I had a sewing machine and knew how to use it - but there was no fee for putting on trim other than hiring someone to sew it for you if you couldn't do it yourself.

 

[granfire]

I started in the USTF, and their answer to that was this: students who were still active 6 months after their I Dan test were allowed to add black trim to the bottom of their dobok tops - but only after 6 months of active training following the I Dan test, as determined by their instructor. Not just 6 months after training - you put that trim on when your instructor said, and not a day before. There was no cost - except to those who couldn't sew, of course; I had several fellow students who paid me to sew on their trim, because I had a sewing machine and knew how to use it - but there was no fee for putting on trim other than hiring someone to sew it for you if you couldn't do it yourself.

well, the trim in the ITA shows that you are a student and have no aspiration of becoming an instructor. Instructors get stripes on the collar.
And yes, the trim cost you the price of putting it on. Instructor route is a lot like ancient apprentenceship.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

Instructor route is a lot like ancient apprentenceship.

100% agree! I've always felt such regarding this.

Daniel

 

[tshadowchaser]

You time will come and it will have that much more meaning for you because you had to wait for it. Remember the knowledge is still yours and the rank will be yours in the future

 

[Kacey]

well, the trim in the ITA shows that you are a student and have no aspiration of becoming an instructor. Instructors get stripes on the collar.
And yes, the trim cost you the price of putting it on. Instructor route is a lot like ancient apprentenceship.

Bottom trim, as I said, equals continuing to actively train for 6 months following I Dan testing; we also (YCTA, my current association) also adds one black stripe down each leg at IV Dan (which is also when you add the stripe to the bottom of the jacket), one black stripe down each sleeve for passing the Instructor Certification class (not possible until IV Dan), stripes on the collar are added at VII Dan.

Why do you differentiate between students who "have no aspiration of becoming an instructor" and instructors? What happens if someone is suddenly inspired? Do they have to remove the trim from one part of their uniform and put it on another part? Rank is rank, and instructors can be any rank - I see no reason to differentiate. You either have earned a particular rank, and trim your uniform to demonstrate it, or you haven't earned the rank, whether you are on the instructor training track or not. Is there a difference between in ability an I Dan who wants to be an instructor and one who doesn't? I'm truly not trying to start trouble here - I just see no reason why there would be a difference in uniform between an apprentice instructor and another student of the same rank who doesn't want to be an instructor. I don't have a problem with insignia on the uniform (trim, patches, etc.) to indicate an instructor or an instructor-in-training, I just don't understand why only those who are not in instructors or training to be instructors get trim indicating their rank.

 

[granfire]

Bottom trim, as I said, equals continuing to actively train for 6 months following I Dan testing; we also (YCTA, my current association) also adds one black stripe down each leg at IV Dan (which is also when you add the stripe to the bottom of the jacket), one black stripe down each sleeve for passing the Instructor Certification class (not possible until IV Dan), stripes on the collar are added at VII Dan.

Why do you differentiate between students who "have no aspiration of becoming an instructor" and instructors? What happens if someone is suddenly inspired? Do they have to remove the trim from one part of their uniform and put it on another part? Rank is rank, and instructors can be any rank - I see no reason to differentiate. You either have earned a particular rank, and trim your uniform to demonstrate it, or you haven't earned the rank, whether you are on the instructor training track or not. Is there a difference between in ability an I Dan who wants to be an instructor and one who doesn't? I'm truly not trying to start trouble here - I just see no reason why there would be a difference in uniform between an apprentice instructor and another student of the same rank who doesn't want to be an instructor. I don't have a problem with insignia on the uniform (trim, patches, etc.) to indicate an instructor or an instructor-in-training, I just don't understand why only those who are not in instructors or training to be instructors get trim indicating their rank.

Instructor program is different from rank

You have to be a decided 1st (1st L2) before you can test to become an Instructor trainee. (as Blue belt you can - at the discretion of your instructor - become a so called L1 instructor, assisting in class, etc)

You have to log in 250 hours teaching and assisting in class, fill out a bunch of lesson planners, outlining the different stages of the testing cycle, attend several seminars, tournaments and hold CPR/First Aide certification before you get to test for certified instructor.

rank is on the belt, and from 3rd degree on on the pants...

And don't ask me why, I just follow the rules, log in my hours and hope to one day be called Instructor. it's a long road, one year at least and a few fists full of dollars later....

So if you want to be a student, you put the Black trim on the bottom of the jacket. Nothing wrong with that, it takes a lot of extra time to teach, many folks don't have that. Instructors get in rising rank a red stripe, red and black, narrow black and wider black stripe on the collar. if you change your mind, np, you just change the trim, naturally from instructor to student it's easier, the other way around the Head instructor has his/her input. Clear as mud, I know.

 

[karatemom]

I'll have the student stripe when I get to that point - I just don't have the time to dedicate to being an instructor...

OH! I saw a girl in class the other night (Prob. Black or 1st degree level 1 like me) and she's been that rank I know for at least a year... so I don't know if the 6 month rule is new or like I said before they may be making exceptions for injury, going back to school, etc. I just know I wanna move forward and test in Nov.

Too funny! tonight in class my friend (yeah, the on the left in my avatar pic) got so confused lining up - I had to tell her we're not the same rank anymore and she had to line up ahead of me - luckily we had a laid back instructor who just grinned at us and we didn't have to do push ups.